Cryptic crosswords for beginners: the states of the US

Within the instance clues beneath, I clarify the 2 components of every one. There's a definition of the reply and there's some wordplay – a recipe for assembling its letters. In a real puzzle surroundings, after all, you even have the crossing letters, which massively alleviate your fixing load. Additionally, right here, the setters’ names are inclined to hyperlink to profiles of the people behind the pseudonyms.

Any moderately acquainted set of abbreviations goes to catch a crossword setter’s eye as a helpful means of indicating a part of a phrase. The leisure trade implies that British solvers usually tend to have come throughout abbreviations used for the 50 states than they're, say, Bolivian departmentos. Listed here are some that a newbie ought to hold an eye fixed out for.

California = CA

The Golden Gate Bridge. Photograph: Anadolu Company/Getty Pictures

Staying with the leisure trade, “California” in a clue usually signifies CA in a solution. Typically, setters may mix it with one other state. Two examples, each from Pan:

8d Drink from California and Virginia (4)

6a Shrub present in Colorado and California (4)

Within the first we mix CA and VA for the drink, CAVA, and within the second CO and CA for the shrub, COCA.

Rhode Island = RI

Newport County, Rhode Island. Photograph: Picture Supply/Alamy

You don’t must be a giant state to determine in crosswords. Texas is definitely giant and far mentioned however, except the setter has a burning urge to incorporate Pope Harmless XI in a puzzle, the TX abbreviation shouldn't be a lot assist to anybody.

In contrast, right here’s tiny Rhode Island in a clue from Nutmeg …

20dOpening company, fellow leaves for Rhode Island (7)
[ wordplay: synonym for “agency” with abbrev for “fellow” replaced by abbrev for “Rhode Island” ]
[ OFFICE with one F replaced by RI ]
[ definition: opening ]

… for ORIFICE. Do setters at all times give the complete identify of the state? They don't. Right here’s Brendan …

12aJapanese state with TV channel for these with sense of journey? (5)
[ wordplay: abbrev for a state in the east of the USA + name of TV channel ]
[ RI + SKY ]
[ definition: for those with sense of adventure? ]

… cluing RISKY. OK, so do they at all times enable you to slender down which state you’re on the lookout for? Learn on.

Florida = FLA

Miami Seashore, Florida. Photograph: Andre Babiak/Alamy

Earlier than that, one other warning. You’ve seen some states referred to with three-letter abbreviations, so right here’s Everyman …

9a Concede round New Yr: “Florida’s the place retiree may dwell” (6,4)
[ wordplay: synonym for “concede” containing (“around”) abbrevs for “new”, “year” and “Florida” ]
[ GRANT containing N & Y & FLA ]
[ definition: where retiree might live ]

… with a clue for GRANNY FLAT. And, so, the cautious solver might be questioning, does a “California” at all times point out a two-letter CA?

California = CAL

The Golden Gate Bridge, once more. Photograph: Anadolu Company/Getty Pictures

It definitely doesn’t. Right here’s Crucible …

24aCentre Level’s fantastic previous state (5)
[ wordplay: abbrevs for “fine”, “old” and a US state ]
[ F + O + CAL ]
[ definition: centre point ]

… with a clue for FOCAL, which leaves you to work out for your self which state we’re speaking about.

This can be a helpful reminder that, as usually as not, you may crack a clue by seeing a phrase that matches and matches the definition, and ensure it with the wordplay half. And, let’s be clear, a reminder that we embrace the sudden: it’s a part of the enjoyable.

Learners, any questions? Seasoned solvers, any favorite examples?

Extra steerage

Cryptic gadgets: hidden solutions; double definitions; cryptic definitions; soundalikes; preliminary letters; spoonerisms; containers; reversals; alternate letters; biking; stammering; taking most of a phrase; bare phrases; first and final letters; center letters; defining by instance.

Fine details: Roman numerals; Nato alphabet; Greek letters; chemistry; abbreviations for nations; factors of the compass; enjoying playing cards; capital letters; girls and boys; apostrophes; cricket; alcohol; the church; Latin; royals; newspapers; docs; medicine; music; animals; vehicles; cities; rivers; boats; when the setter’s identify seems; when the solver seems; “dishonest”.

Particular person letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, Okay, L, M.

The Transport Forecast Puzzle Ebook by Alan Connor, which is partly however not predominantly cryptic, could be obtained from the Guardian Bookshop.